Nampa Girl Scout Troop 31 has had two generous girls contribute hair to the Locks of Love program.

Kendra’s mom submitted these photos, writing.

“She was 7 years old when she donated it on Dec. 27, 2006.  She grew her hair out just to donate it to Locks of Love.  She was so excited to help out another little girl that needed it!!

Her hair was very long!!  It was sad to see it go….until the next time I had to brush it!  Ha.”

Katelynn is another exceptional girl who took the time to grow her hair out for Locks of Love. Her father, Sean, wrote,

“After the 1,000+ box cookie sales extravaganza, Katelynn decided to go through with the process of cutting off all of her hair for “Lock for Love”.  The reason why she decided to do this is because she is one of the most giving children that I know.  She can’t leave a parking lot if there is someone on the curb with a sign that says that they are in need of help.

But, back to Kate, she cut off 11-12″ of her hair for donations.  She totally looked like a new kid after the procedure.  I had to do a double and triple take in order to make sure that we had the right kid in our car after the haircut.  I have a feeling that Katelynn would love to do this on a yearly basis if her hair could grow that much in that short of time.”

Locks of Love, have a friend, daughter or other loved one who has donated hair; please submit a photo or a comment to so that they can be highlighted here. You can also submit photos via email to editor@ourtownnampa.com.

For a complete description of what the Locks of Love program offers and who they help, visit their website at http://www.locksoflove.com.

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The building was designed by New York architects and opened in 1925.  For years it majestically greeted the visitors of the City of Trees, as family and loved ones lined the train tracks waiting for their guests.  In 1971, the Depot stopped running.  It fell into disrepair and was eventually remodeled by the Morrison Knudsen Company.

The City of Boise took over the Depot in 1996.   The Depot is open daily for viewing.  Check the Boise City website for information on the times.  The building is available for weddings, corporate functions and parties.

Surrounding the Boise Train Depot is Platt Gardens, a splendid, beautiful acreage of paths, waterfalls, volcanic rock formations, and ponds filled with koi and lily pads.  The park boasts a panoramic view of the city of Boise.

The park was named after Howard Platt, who at the time, was the manager of the original Oregon Short Line Railroad.  Back in the day, visitors would walk the paths and lunch in the park while they waited for their passengers to arrive on the train.

visit http://www.northboiseid.ourtown.com for more information

I spent most of my time in Platt Gardens.  If you visit on a nice day, you will see many people relaxing under its many trees; strolling by its ponds, and climbing its rock cave.  It’s a peaceful, beautiful place.  It is definitely worth your time to stop by and visit.

Dalton Sherman is a 5^th grade student, a product of the Dallas Independent School District, and an amazing orator who delivered an inspiring speech in front of a crowd of 17,000 D.I.S.D. faculty, family and friends at a back to school pep rally at the American Airlines Center this past August.

I’m sure some of you have seen this young man on the news and on the Ellen show, but he struck me as such an inspiring person that I thought I should share his light on Our Town Nampa.

There has been some discussion on the net about the speech Mr. Sherman delivered being written by officials from the Dallas I.S.D. and that he was coached by his fourth grade teacher and his mother, who is a fifth grade teacher.  I believe that those factors are irrelevant.  Mr. Sherman was coached from a book published in 1909 called “Natural Drills in Expression,” which belonged to his great grandfather.  He memorized the speech word for word and delivered it with inspiring enthusiasm which not only motivated a crowd of thousands, but a nation.  He is an amazing young man.  His message is universal, and should be conveyed to every teacher in every school district in the United States.

I have posted Mr. Sherman’s speech on Our Town Nampa.  I sincerely hope that educators and faculty from the Nampa School District take the time to watch it and know that his message is not only directed to the Dallas I.S.D., but to them as well.  And as a product of the Nampa School District, who now has children attending school in District #131, thank you for taking the time to do the most important job in America.

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Our Town Nampa Coupon Train, Actual Coupons

Read here to get more information on Our Town Nampa’s Coupon Train. We want to make it easier for our loyal readers to save money in these trying economic times!

If you want to be a part of  the Coupon Train list, please send us your name and address to editor@ourtownnampa.com.  We are currently assembling a list  of people and will be sending out the first pack this Saturday.

In the meantime, save every coupon you come across, even if you don’t need it yourself!  Who knows who you may help.

Did I nod off for five minutes and miss summer’s mass exodus?  It is currently a spine tingling 46 degrees at 2:07 pm.  Since it is approaching the warmest time of the day, I am assuming I am going to be trading in my days of cheap flip flops for wool socks and boots.  The lazy days of summer have been replaced with bone chilling, spin tingling gale force winds, and apparently a brief dusting of snow in Boise yesterday!  All I can say is BRR.

Nonetheless, it is Halloween.  And despite the fact that come the middle of October, summer, like clockwork, takes off in the blink of an eye; I never took advantage of the 80 degree days to seek after, and purchase the most perfect pumpkins for the upcoming holiday.

I have however, taken some price notes on what I’ve seen in my many trips out and about over the last two weeks.  Hopefully this makes it a tad bit easier for you not to freeze your digits off, going from store to store, looking for the ever elusive, most illustrious “great pumpkin.”

Please note that my “research,” and I use that term loosely, reflects prices on only large pumpkins.

Fred Meyer
50 Second Street South
Nampa
.29 a pound

Pauls
12^th Avenue Road
Nampa
.23 a pound

I never understood the concept of charging on a per pound basis, but I’m guessing that the an average sized pumpkin is approximately 15 pounds, so you can do the math.

Albertsons
12^th and Greenhurst
Nampa
$4.99 each

Walmart
12^th and Greenhurst
Nampa
$3.38 each

The Berry Ranch
By reading their website, I am assuming that they don’t charge for a single pumpkin, instead offering the “pumpkin picking experience”, complete with straw mazes and wagon rides to their pumpkin patch.  Their prices vary according to age and group size.  You can find more information by visiting their website.  I suggest taking hand warmers and hot chocolate.

If you call the business, they don’t give price quotes over the phone.

I’ll continue to add to the list as I am out and about over the next couple weeks.  In the meantime, camp out, with your welcome signs, and let me know if you see a “greater deal” on the Great Pumpkin.

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My daughter is a huge pet fan.  She recently brought home a book on pets, ordered from Scholastic, that described a black lab as “always hungry.”  This is true of my lab.  He knows that he gets fed at 7:00 a.m. and around 5:00 p.m., and he has no problem with reminding you should you get tied up in some meaningless human activity.

If I dare have my coffee without feeding him first, he will pace back and forth from where I’m sitting, nails on his paws clacking on the hardwood floor, to his dog food bowl, each time stopping to see if food has magically appeared in his bowl since the last time he gazed longingly in to the empty plastic bowl.  He sits pretty and looks at you innocently when you fill his bowl with food, waiting for permission go ahead and eat up.   You see, my lab has manners, he knows he can’t rush to the bowl until I say it’s ok. Besides, 100 pound lab paws on your bare feet hurts.

Once he eats, he passes out for his mid morning nap, but only after poofing up his dog pillow, using his paws.  Have you ever seen a dog poof up his own pillow?  It’s so funny.

He knows where every ounce of sunlight comes in to the house through every window, at any time of the day.  If you don’t see him on his pillow, look for the sunshine and he will be sacked out right in the middle the warmth..

He loves everyone.  He greets you with a sniff instead of a lick.  If you want him to taste test your snack, he’s happy to oblige.  If I’m happy, he wants to be a part of it.  If I’m sad, he’s there as well to lend a helping paw.

He’s definitely leading a dog’s life.  Sleep, eat, chew on some rawhide treats, run a lap, mark your territory, sleep, eat a little more and sleep.  I bet if he could talk, he’d tell you he’s the true definition of a “Lucky Dog.”

Tell Our Town Nampa about your pet

It was 8:10 pm on October 10, 1992 that I as a man, realized and saw first hand what precious life was about. This was the day my daughter, Michaela was born. With her jet black hair that quickly turned blonde, and her pudgy baby face, I new I had a fighter in my hands. This would turn out to be very true later as we would find that Michaela was diagnosed with craniulsyntosis, which later we would learn had affected her speech. Michaela started going to speech therapy at a very young age, and thus began her fight to succeed!

Michaela as a toe headed baby girl

From the very beginning we knew Michaela was determined to succeed, at her speech and in her life, she was very much a daddy’s girl. Michaela worked long and hard to better her struggles with her speech.  When she began school kids would often assume she had an accent, which was ok by her.

While she struggled to perfect her speech she took her frustrations out on the soccer ball. Michaela started playing soccer at a very young age and quickly grasped the idea of the game and succeed at it at an accelerated speed. Michaela often played on teams that where 1 and 2 years her elder just so she would have some competition.

As she grew as a soccer player she also caught the attention of several of the valley’s elite soccer clubs. I’d have coaches coming to me on the side lines trying to recruit Michaela from the age of 6. She didn’t really understand what was going on but quickly learned which motivated her to practice and work even harder at her speech and her soccer skills. Eventually Michaela graduated from speech therapy and elevated herself to one of the highest levels of soccer in the state.

Playing up for an elite traveling and competitive soccer club, Michaela had learned that nothing could stop her if she just stayed determined and worked hard. One of her earliest goals was capture when she was accepted to the states ODP squad (Olympic Development Program) and later attended a week long try out at the University of Idaho, for the Regional tryouts with girls from all over the West and as far as Hawaii.

Michaela conquering the soccer field.

While playing soccer and traveling, Michaela didn’t have a lot of time for the salons and quickly persuade a fond respect for cosmetology. Reading magazines and using the internet Michaela got aspirations to create her own home remedies. There was many times that I’d go to grab an ingredient like brown sugar only to find it missing and usually sitting in some facial concoction Michaela had created or on her face. Thus began Michaela’s love for Beauty and Fashion.

After several years of living with stinky feet from soccer cleats and our sugar and spices disappearing, Michaela decided it was time for her to pursue other interests. Michaela decided to give up soccer while in middle school to try other activities like Volleyball and Cheerleading. She quickly excelled at both and during her first year of cheer was elected Captain of her squad, all this while pursuing almost a 4.0 GPA in school and attending several functions to support her peers and school.

By the time she reached the 8^th grade she was elected Vice President of her student body, which she took very serious and worked hard with her other elected officials pondering great thoughts and ideas to better help their peers attending their school, and to help the more misfortunate people of her community by working with her peers to raise money through several different types of fund raisers to be donated to the ones in need in our community.

Eventually Michaela was invited to take part in the Miss Teen Idaho USA Pageant being held on October 25, 2008, at Nampa’s Columbia Auditorium. Michaela will be representing Meridian and her community  as  the Greater Meridian Teen USA, as she puts her hard work and determination into her bid for the title of Miss Teen Idaho USA and then onto the Miss Teen USA.

Of course none of this is free to the girls and each Miss Teen has to raise at least $995.00 to be in the competition. These funds are raised by the teens through sponsorships from their community, businesses, family and friends. The money obtained is used for the girl’s room and board during the pageant, prizes for all contestants, and to help send the winner to the National competition and Idaho’s bid for Miss Teen USA. Michaela has a good start so far with some great sponsors from our community however more support is needed, it doesn’t matter the size of the support for all benefits the same, whether $25 or $250.

The supporters will have an opportunity to be listed in the pageant’s portfolio and possibly during the live show. Also, if our Michaela is crowned Miss Teen Idaho USA, those supporters may have advertisement, TV, and radio opportunities with our newly crowned Miss Teen. So please help Michaela by showing your support in our community by giving her a great start as she vies for the title and crown and brings it back to our community, contact information for questions in regards to sponsorships and event details will be included at the bottom of this announcement.

Also at this time the pageant is holding their online Miss Photogenic contest, so please go to www.missidahousa.com click on contestants and Miss Teen in order to view the teen contestants and hopefully click on Michaela McQuilkin’s photo to vote her Miss Photogenic, with the winner being announced the night of the pageant.

So please, Michaela has shown us all great determination and that Idaho drive to succeed, as well as her support and love for her community and peers. Let’s all now show our support for this very special Treasure Valley, Meridian, and Idaho local girl by voting and supporting her through sponsorship as she puts all her strengths and talents together to bring the crown to our community.

Little known fact, last years Miss Teen Idaho USA was fourth runner up in the Miss Teen USA pageant, our highest ranking ever. Let’s continue this climb and help our Local girl Michaela, to reach her goal and possibly bring the Titles of Miss Teen Idaho USA, and Miss Teen USA back to us all.  Thank you for your support!!

Curtis McQuilkin
(Michaela’s proud father)

I have developed that site into something pretty special.  Something that I am pretty proud of.  I want people in Nampa, Idaho to utilize this site as a tool for promoting their business, advertising their fundraisers and events, or whatever else they feel like they need it for.

The site is non partial to any political opinions, religious beliefs or anything else.  While I do have rss feeds from local papers, there is no opinion hidden in any articles.  It is very non biased.

Because of the painstaking attempts to make the site great, Our Town Nampa has been featured on the front page of it’s parent site for three months.  I am very proud that Our Town feels the Nampa site is nice enough to feature.  That should be a huge compliment to everyone who lives in Nampa.

What is so irritating, is having really good articles about Nampa being pushed out of a featuring list by people who comment on stories simply for the sake of the putting their site into a feature position.

I have seen comments left on articles such as “soihujyaeoir j zdjgiledg.”  What this does is register that a comment has been made on a particular town’s site, and broadcasts that comment across the Our Town server.  It takes away the validity of what we are working for, and makes our sites look stupid.

I am not on a mission to be number one, but I do work hard and it is frustrating to me to see good stories pushed out of a feature section because someone is leaving “;lkiahfashjilkjnglkdzsjfg;lkjdf” as a comment.

Please take a moment to peruse the Nampa site, http://www.ourtownnampa.com or http://www.nampaid.ourtown.com and see what we have on there so far.  Also let me know if there is anything that anyone might want to change or add.

There are a bunch of really nice articles on Our Town Nampa about people in our city.  Help them out by taking the time to register on the site, (it is free) and leave a nice comment about them.

Thanks for your time and keep enjoying Our Town Nampa!

Hunting season is when every local in our state adorns their head with the official hunting head gear, a camouflage base ball cap.  Hunting season is when you see men wearing overalls to Walmart to shop for shot gun shells.  Hunting season is when you see groups of men push a cart through the grocery store and fill it full of every food and drink that their wives wouldn’t dare let them have, if of course, it wasn’t hunting season.  It’s a yearly right of passage.

But here’s a new one.  Apparently, hunting season is when you attach a mechanical plastic buck with a big red bull’s eye on its belly to your trailer hitch and connect it to your car battery.  When you drive down the street, its front hooves go up and down.  It was the funniest thing I have seen in Nampa, Idaho in at least a week!

Yee Haww It's Hunting Season!

I would love to know where that guy found that mechanical deer.  I’m sure I’ll see a lot more wackiness before November and December, but thank goodness I had a camera phone with me.  This is classic.  Happy Hunting Season!

There are a lot of recreation options in Nampa, Idaho.  My husband and I love to walk on the many paths that Nampa, Idaho has to offer.  This is a little bit of video that I shot in June, 2008  out off of Tio Lane in Nampa, Idaho by Lake Lowell, enjoy!